MH's response, courtesy of the Express : Tory leader Michael Howard denounced as "nonsense from beginning to end" an article in The Spectator magazine which accused Liverpudlians of wallowing in victim status over the murder of Ken Bigley and the Hillsborough football disaster of 1989. Mr Howard, who is a fervent supporter of Liverpool Football Club, spoke out angrily over the editorial which, although unsigned, was written under the direction of the magazine's editor, Tory MP Boris Johnson, who is shadow culture secretary. Now there is speculation about whether Mr Johnson, MP for Henley, will be able to retain his front-bench post. The article which spoke of the "extreme reaction" to the beheading of Mr Bigley aroused instant fury in Liverpool and demands for an immediate apology. Mr Howard said: "I totally disagree with the comment in The Spectator about Liverpool. I have nothing but the greatest admiration and affection for Liverpool and its people. "I think what was said in the Spectator was nonsense from beginning to end." Mr Johnson's immediate reaction to the furore was to say: "We certainly did not mean to offend anybody in Liverpool. The Spectator loves Liverpool." But Peter Kilfoyle, Labour MP for Liverpool, Walton demanded an immediate apology, saying: "It is inaccurate. It is outrageous and it is bigoted and it is the responsibility of the man who presumes to be shadow minister for culture, media and sport. "He should immediately apologise for this disgraceful comment about Liverpool, and the tragedy at Hillsborough and the implied insult to the Bigley family. "To single out Liverpool as somehow being psychologically flawed is absolutely outrageous." " "We certainly did not mean to offend anybody in Liverpool. The Spectator loves Liverpool." " Don't think the peole of Liverpool are stupid, Boris.
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